These are the meeting notes from the Portland Monument Ground, the group that would later build the Portland Observatory. Read the full transcript. How many shares were available for purchase? How much did one share cost?

Transcription

By the time Edward Oxnard's share was issued in October 1807 the cost of a share in the Portland Observatory had risen to $50 dollars. If one hundred shares were now available at $50 each how much money was raised to build the Portland Observatory? Who would be interested in purchasing share in the Portland Observatory? (What do you think their occupation was?) Why would these people be interested in the Observatory?

Notes related to the construction of the Portland Observatory / Maine Historical Society

This document has many clues about the pieces of lumber needed to construct the Portland Observatory. Moody has requested "Pine 65 feet" in length, "14 inches at the butt and 10 inches at the top". Moody also ordered a "Jib" and several "Girts". Consult a dictionary, what is a jib? What is a girt? How were these to be used in the construction of the Portland Observatory? How much was Moody willing to pay for this lumber? Where did he want the lumber delivered?

Transcription

This is the contract Moody entered into with Benjamin Gould for lumber to build the Portland Observatory. How closely does the contract match Moody's original request? What date is the lumber set to arrive? Does that match the date requested by Moody in the previous document? How many 65 foot long posts has Moody ordered? How much is he paying for them? Where are they being delivered? What form of transporation do you think Mr. Gould will use to bring the lumber to Portland?